Flexible shaft coupling



Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE SHAFTCOUPLING Opie E. Braswell, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Application April 15, 1948, Serial No. 21,172

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in shaft couplings.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fiexible shaftcoupling including cooperating coupling bushings adapted to be securedto the adjacent ends of two aligned shafts, together with a plurality ofradially disposed coupling blocks of fiber, and a pair of cooperatingsemicircular hold down straps for said coupling blocks secured to theperipheral edge of one of said coupling bushings.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flexible shaftcoupling including a pair of cooperating coupling bushings adapted to befixed to the adjacent ends of two aligned shafts, together with aplurality of radially and angularly disposed coupling blocks of fiberbetween said coupling bushings, said coupling bushings beingperipherally grooved to provide different diameters, and a pair ofcooperating semi-circular hold down straps for said coupling blockssecured to the larger and more shallow peripheral groove in one of saidcoupling bushings.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flexibleshaft coupling construction which will be highly efficient in operation,and relativel inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on th line Il of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View showing the angular positioning of oneof the fiber blocks with the hold down straps therefor;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the improved flexible shaft coupling, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings to designate correspondingparts.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided an improved flexibleshaft coupling including a pair of cooperating coupling bushings I and 2having reduced outer end portions 3 and 4 respectively, said bushingsbeing axially apertured 2 to snugly fit over the adjacent ends of thealigned shafts 5 and 6.

Alignable splines l and 8 are formed in the ends of the shafts 5 and 6to receive the short keys 9 and 10 supported in the splines II and I2formed in the coupling bushings l and 2.

Set screws 13 and M are threaded through the reduced outer end portions3 and 4 for engaging the edges of the keys 9 and Ill for locking thekeys and coupling bushings I and 2 upon said shafts 5 and 6. g

The adjacent peripheral edges of the coupling bushings l and 2 aregrooved as at l5 and 16, the groove being slightly deeper than. thegroove 16.

Radially extending angularly disposed slots H are formed in the adjacentfaces 18 and 19 of the coupling bushings l and 2, said slots beingsubstantially oval in cross section and of increasing size from theirinner ends to their outer ends. Furthermore the angularly disposed slotsl1 are disposed in alternate right angular relation.

Four wedge shaped fiber blocks 20 of oval shape in cross section andtapering inwardly from their outer ends to their inner ends are disposedin the slots I! to provide a shearing coupling, and when said blocks 20are worn, the same may be quickly and readily replaced at a minimum oftime and expense.

A pair of semi-circular metal hold down straps 2| and 22 are disposed inthe peripheral grooves l5 and it to overlie the outer arcuate ends ofsaid blocks 20, and are secured in place by the countersunk head screws23 which extend therethrough and into the coupling bushing 2.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that a highl eflicientflexible shaft coupling has been provided.

While the preferred embodiment of the instant invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be understood that it is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention thereto, as many minor changes indetail of construction may be resorted to without departure from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a flexible shaft coupling, the combination of 4 a pair of cooperatingcoupling bushings having REFERENCES CITED parallel Contacting Surfaces,aligned Shafts keyed The following references are of record in the tosaid coupling bushings, alternately arranged file of t patent; angularlydisposed outwardly tapering radial 1y 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS extendingfiber blocks supported between said t coupling bushings, adjacentperipheral grooves gg g C 1Name J 5 formed about said bushings, and apair of coopl 796803 z gg 2? 1931 crating semi-circular metal retainingbands se- 2:050:63) Reid Aug:111936 cured to the periphery of one ofsaid bushings 10 overlying the outer ends of said blocks for lim-FOREIGN PATENTS iting their outward movement. Number Country Date111,126 Australia 1928 OPIE E. BRASWELL. 430,981 Germany 1926

